Wire Grid Beamsplitter Cube in 16 mm Cage Cube

Polarizes and Splits Wavelengths from 400 to 700 nm
High Extinction Ratio: >1 000:1 for Transmitted Beam
SM05 and 16 mm Cage System Compatible
Engraved Housing

CCM5-WPBS20

16 mm Wire Grid Beamsplitter
8-32 Mounting Tap

Application Idea

The CCM5-WPBS20 Beamsplitter Cube is shown connected to a SCFW6 filter mount with Ø1/2'' ND filters using 16 mm cage rods.

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Overview
Specs
Graphs
Polarizer Guide
Feedback
BS Selection Guide

Transmission and Reflection of Light Through a Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cube
(Not to Scale)

Top View of Thorlabs Wire Grid Beamsplitter Engraving

Click for Details
Each mounted wire grid beamsplitter cube is engraved with a ray diagram for one of the two preferred entrance faces.

Features

Transmits P-Polarized Light and Reflects S-Polarized Light
Antireflective (AR) Coating for 400 - 700 nm (R_avg < 0.5% @ 0° AOI)
20.0 mm (0.79") Cube in 16 mm Cage System Compatible Mounts
Four SM05-Threaded (0.535"-40) Ports
High Extinction Ratio
- T_P:T_S > 1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°)
- T_P:T_S > 100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)

Thorlabs offers a wire grid polarizing beamsplitter cube mounted in a 16 mm cage system compatible housing with SM05-threaded ports. The mounted cube consists of an array of parallel metallic wires between two N-BK7 prisms joined with optical cement. Wire grid polarizers transmit radiation with an electric field vector perpendicular to the wire and reflect radiation with the electric field vector parallel to the wire. This cube separates the s- and p-polarized components by reflecting the s-polarized component at the wire grid, while allowing the p-polarized component to pass. Due to surface reflections, the reflected beam contains both polarizations.

This beamsplitter cube has a larger Angle of Incidence (AOI) than traditional broadband polarizing beamsplitter cubes. For the highest polarization extinction ratio, use the transmitted beam, which offers an extinction ratio of T_P:T_S > 1 000:1 for an AOI from 0° to 5°. For higher AOI (5° to 25°), this cube can maintain an extinction ratio of T_P:T_S > 100:1. These beamsplitter cubes are coated with an AR thin film designed for 400 - 700 nm (R_avg < 0.5% @ 0° AOI).

The wire grid is sandwiched between the hypotenuses of the two prisms that make up the cube. Then, optical cement is used to bind the two prism halves together (refer to the diagram above). Light can be input into any of the polished faces to separate the s- and p-polarizations. One possible orientation is engraved on the top of the cage cube.

A bottom-located 8-32 or M4 tap is included on each housing for post mounting. The housing features four SM05-threaded entrance and exit ports for compatibility with our SM05 (0.535"-40) lens tubes. Four 4-40 tapped holes surrounding each port provide compatibility with our 16 mm cage systems. These mounted beamsplitters can be connected to other cage cubes through the use of our cage rods and SRSCA adapters.

We also offer unmounted versions of our wire grid beamsplitters in various sizes. Custom beamsplitter cubes can be ordered by contacting Tech Support. For high-power applications, we also offer high-power polarizing beamsplitting cubes that have damage thresholds greater than 10 J/cm². We also offer polarizing beamsplitter cubes at laser line wavelengths, which have a high extinction ratio of >3 000:1 (T_P:T_S).

Item #	CCM5-WPBS20
Design Wavelength	400 - 700 nm
AR Coating	R_avg < 0.5% @ 0° AOI for 400 - 700 nm
Material	N-BK7
Extinction Ratio^a	T_p:T_s > 1 000:1 @ 0° - 5° AOI T_p:T_s > 100:1 @ 0° - 25° AOI
Transmission	T_p > 75% (Avg.) @ 0° AOI for 400 - 700 nm
Reflectance	R_s > 70% @ 0° - 25° AOI for 400 - 700 nm
Transmitted Beam Deviation	<20 arcmin
Reflected Beam Deviation	90° ± 20 arcmin
Clear Aperture	Ø12.5 mm
Transmitted Wavefront Error	<λ/4 @ 633 nm
Surface Quality	40-20 Scratch-Dig
Dimensions (L × W × H)	1.18" x 1.18" x 1.18" (30.0 mm x 30.0 mm x 30.0 mm)
Post Mount	8-32

The extinction ratio (ER) is the ratio of maximum to minimum transmission of a sufficiently linearly polarized input. When the transmission axis and input polarization are parallel, the transmission is at its maximum;
rotate the polarizer by 90° for minimum transmission.

Polarization Window, Straight vs. Coiled
Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The graph above shows the measured extinction ratio (ER) for transmitted light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The extinction ratio (also known as contrast) is the ratio of the maximum transmission of a sufficiently linearly polarized signal when the polarizer’s axis is aligned with the signal to the minimum transmission when the polarizer is rotated by 90°. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.

Polarization Window, Straight vs. Coiled
Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The graph above shows the measured transmission through the wire grid polarizing cube for p-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.

Polarization Window, Straight vs. Coiled
Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The graph above shows the measured transmission through the wire grid polarizing cube for s-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.

Polarization Window, Straight vs. Coiled
Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The graph above shows the measured reflectance from the wire grid polarizing cube for p-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.

Polarization Window, Straight vs. Coiled
Click to Enlarge
Click for Raw Data
The graph above shows the measured reflectance from the wire grid polarizing cube for s-polarized light for light incident upon one of the entrance faces. The plotted data is given for AOIs of 0° and ±25°.

Polarizer Selection Guide

Thorlabs offers a diverse range of polarizers, including wire grid, film, calcite, alpha-BBO, rutile, and beamsplitting polarizers. Collectively, our line of wire grid polarizers offers coverage from the visible range to the beginning of the Far-IR range. Our nanoparticle linear film polarizers provide extinction ratios as high as 100 000:1. Alternatively, our other film polarizers offer an affordable solution for polarizing light from the visible to the Near-IR. Next, our beamsplitting polarizers allow for use of the reflected beam, as well as the more completely polarized transmitted beam. Finally, our alpha-BBO (UV), calcite (visible to Near-IR), rutile (Near-IR to Mid-IR), and yttrium orthovanadate (YVO₄) (Near-IR to Mid-IR) polarizers each offer an exceptional extinction ratio of 100 000:1 within their respective wavelength ranges.

To explore the available types, wavelength ranges, extinction ratios, transmission, and available sizes for each polarizer category, click More [+] in the appropriate row below.

Wire Grid Polarizers

Film Polarizers

Beamsplitting Polarizers

alpha-BBO Polarizers

Calcite Polarizers

Quartz Polarizers

Magnesium Fluoride Polarizers

Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Polarizers

Rutile Polarizers

Click on the graph icons in this column to view a transmission curve for the corresponding polarizer. Each curve represents one substrate sample or coating run and is not guaranteed.
Mounted in a protective box, unthreaded ring, or cylinder.
Available unmounted or in an SM05-threaded (0.535"-40) mount that indicates the polarization axis.
Available unmounted or in an SM1-threaded (1.035"-40) mount that indicates the polarization axis.
Available unmounted or mounted in cubes for cage system compatibility.
Calcite's transmittance of light near 350 nm is typically around 75% (see Transmission column).
Available unmounted or in an unthreaded Ø1/2" housing.
The transmission curves for calcite are valid for linearly polarized light with a polarization axis aligned with the mark on the polarizer's housing.
The 1064 nm V coating corresponds to a -C26 suffix in the item number.
Available unmounted or mounted in a protective box or unthreaded cylinder that indicates the polarization axis.

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Thorlabs' portfolio contains many different kinds of beamsplitters, which can split beams by intensity or by polarization. We offer plate and cube beamsplitters, though other form factors exist, including pellicle and birefringent crystal. Many of our beamsplitters come in premounted or unmounted variants. Below is a complete listing of our beamsplitter offerings. To explore the available types, wavelength ranges, splitting/extinction ratios, transmission, and available sizes for each beamsplitter category, click More [+] in the appropriate row below.

Non-Polarizing Beamsplitters

Plate Beamsplitters

Cube Beamsplitters

Pellicle Beamsplitters

45° AOI Unless Otherwise Noted

Polarizing Beamsplitters

Plate Beamsplitters

Cube Beamsplitters

Birefringent Crystal Beamsplitters

Mounted in a protective box, unthreaded ring, or cylinder.
Available unmounted or mounted in a protective box or unthreaded cylinder.

Other Beamsplitters

Other Beamsplitters

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Wire Grid Polarizers on Glass Substrates	420 nm - 700 nm	>800:1 (Avg. Over Wavelength Range)		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm
Wire Grid Polarizers on Glass Substrates	250 nm - 4 µm	>10:1 from 250 nm - 4 µm >100:1 from 300 nm - 4 µm >1000:1 from 600 nm - 4 µm >10 000:1 from 2.25 µm - 4 µm		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	20 mm and 1"^e
Holographic Wire Grid Polarizers	2 µm - 12 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 10 µm		Ø25.0 mm^b and Ø50.0 mm^b
	2 µm - 9 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 8 µm
	2 µm - 30 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 15 µm
	2 µm - 18 µm	150:1 at 3 µm 300:1 at 10 µm
MIR Wire Grid Polarizers on Silicon Substrates	3 µm - 5 µm	>1000:1		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm^b, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm^b, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm^b
MIR Wire Grid Polarizers on Silicon Substrates	7 µm - 15 µm	>10,000:1		12.5 mm x 12.5 mm^b, Ø25.0 mm^b, 25.0 mm x 25.0 mm^b, and 50.0 mm x 50.0 mm^b

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Nanoparticle Linear Film Polarizers	365 nm - 395 nm	>1000:1 from 365 nm - 395 nm >10 000:1 from 369 nm - 390 nm >100 000:1 from 372 nm - 388 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	480 nm - 550 nm	>10 000:1 from 480 nm - 550 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	510 nm - 800 nm	>1000:1 from 510 nm - 800 nm >10 000:1 from 520 - 740 nm >100 000:1 from 530 - 640 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	550 nm - 1500 nm	>10 000:1 from 550 nm - 1500 nm >100 000:1 from 600 nm - 1200 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	650 nm - 1100 nm	>200:1 from 650 nm - 695 nm >1000:1 from 695 nm - 1100 nm		Ø1/2"^c and Ø1"^d
	650 nm - 2000 nm	>1000:1 from 650 nm - 2000 nm >10 000:1 from 750 nm - 1800 nm >100 000:1 from 850 nm - 1600 nm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	1 µm - 3 µm	>1000:1 from 1 µm - 3 µm >10,000:1 from 1.2 µm - 3 µm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
	1.1 µm - 1.8 µm	>1000:1 from 1.1 µm - 1.8 µm		Ø1/2"^c and Ø1"^d
	1.5 µm - 5 µm	>1000:1 from 1.5 µm - 5 µm >10 000:1 from 2 µm - 4.5 µm		Ø12.5 mm^c and Ø25.0 mm^d
Economy Film Polarizers	400 nm - 700 nm	>100:1 from 400 nm - 500 nm >1000:1 from 500 nm - 700 nm >5000:1 from 530 nm - 690 nm		2" x 2"
Economy Film Polarizers	600 nm - 1100 nm	>400:1 from 600 nm - 1100 nm >1000:1 from 600 nm - 940 nm		2" x 2"
Economy Laminated Film Polarizers	400 nm - 700 nm	>100:1 from 400 nm - 500 nm >1000:1 from 500 nm - 700 nm >5000:1 from 530 nm - 690 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
	600 nm - 1100 nm	>1000:1 from 600 nm - 950 nm >400:1 from 600 nm - 1100 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
	1050 nm - 1700 nm	>1000:1 from 1050 - 1400 nm >2000:1 from 1400 - 1700 nm		Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
Polarizing Plate Beamsplitters	405 nm	>10 000:1		Ø1" and 25 mm x 36 mm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 nm
	808 nm
	1030 nm
	1064 nm
	1310 nm
	1550 nm
Polarizing Bandpass Filters	355 nm +6 nm / -9 nm	1 000 000:1		25.2 mm x 35.6 mm
Broadband Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	420 nm - 680 nm	1000:1		5 mm, 10 mm, 1/2", 20 mm^e, 1"^e, and 2"
	620 nm - 1000 nm
	900 nm - 1300 nm
	1200 nm - 1600 nm
Wire Grid Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted, 16 mm Cage Cube, or 30 mm Cage Cube)	400 nm - 700 nm	>1 000:1 (AOI: 0° - 5°) >100:1 (AOI: 0° - 25°)	P-Pol. S-Pol.	10 mm, 20 mm^e, and 1"^e
Laser-Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	532 nm	3000:1		10 mm, 1/2", 1"^e
	633 nm
	780 nm
	980 nm			1"^e
	1064 nm			10 mm, 1/2", 1"^e
	1550 nm			10 mm, 1/2", 1"^e
High-Power Laser-Line Polarizing Beamsplitter Cubes (Unmounted or 30 mm Cage Cube)	355 nm	2000:1		1/2" and 1"^e
	405 nm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 - 808 nm
	1064 nm
Calcite Beam Displacers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	-		10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Beam Displacers	488 nm - 3.4 µm (Uncoated)	-		>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipse^g (Clear Aperture)
Yttrium Orthovanadate (YVO₄) Beam Displacers	2000 nm (V Coated)	-		>3 mm x 5 mm Ellipse^g (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a	Available Sizes
alpha-BBO Glan-Laser Polarizers	210 nm - 450 nm	100 000:1		5 mm^b and 10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	220 nm - 370 nm
	405 nm
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	190 nm - 3500 nm			Ø10 mm^b (Clear Aperture)

Polarizer Type	Wavelength Range	Extinction Ratio	Transmission^a,h	Available Sizes
Glan-Laser Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)	100 000:1		5 mm^b, 10 mm^j, and 15 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^f - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
	1050 nm - 1700 nm (C Coated)
	1064 nm (V Coated)ⁱ
Glan-Taylor Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mm^b, 10 mm^b, and 15 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^f - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
	1050 nm - 1700 nm (C Coated)
Glan-Thompson Calcite Polarizers (Unmounted or Mounted)	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			5 mm^j and 10 mm^j (Clear Aperture, Square)
	350 nm^f - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)
Double Glan-Taylor Calcite Polarizers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			9 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Beam Displacers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			10 mm^b (Clear Aperture, Square)
Wollaston Prism Polarizers	350 nm^f - 2.3 µm (Uncoated)			Ø10 mm^j (Clear Aperture)
	350 nm^f - 700 nm (A Coated)
	650 nm - 1050 nm (B Coated)

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio (R:T)	Typical Reflectance^a (Click for Plot)	Typical Transmission^a (Click for Plot)	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Economy	450 - 650 nm	30:70			Ø1" and Ø2"
Economy	450 - 650 nm	50:50			Ø1" and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for UV	250 - 450 nm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for UV to NIR	350 - 1100 nm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for Visible	400 - 700 nm	10:90			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
UV Fused Silica for Visibile to IR	600 - 1700 nm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for NIR	700 - 1100 nm	10:90			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
IR Fused Silica for IR	0.9 - 2.6 µm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
UV Fused Silica for NIR	1.2 - 1.6 µm	10:90			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
		30:70
		50:50
		70:30
		90:10
CaF₂ for IR	1.0 - 6.0 µm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
CaF₂ for IR	2.0 - 8.0 µm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
ZnSe for IR	1.0 - 12.0 µm	50:50			Ø1"
ZnSe for IR	7.0 - 14.0 µm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", and Ø2"
Laser Line for Nd: YAG	532 nm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
Laser Line for Nd: YAG	1064 nm	50:50			Ø1/2", Ø1", 25 x 36 mm, and Ø2"
Polka Dot	250 nm - 2.0 µm	50:50	0° and 8° 45°		Ø1", 1" x 1", and Ø2"
	350 nm - 2.0 µm		0° and 8° 45°		Ø1", 1" x 1", and Ø2"
	180 nm - 8.0 µm		0° and 12° 45°		Ø1" and Ø2"
	2.0 - 11.0 µm		0° and 10° 45°		Ø1"
Ultrafast with Low GDD	600 - 1500 nm	20:80			Ø1"
		50:50
		80:20

Type	Center Wavelength	Extinction Ratio (T_P:T_S)	Typical Transmission (Click for Plot)	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Standard	405 nm	>10 000:1		Ø1" and 25 mm x 36 mm
	532 nm
	633 nm
	780 nm
	808 nm
	1030 nm
	1064 nm
	1310 nm
	1550 nm
Polarizing Bandpass Filters	355 nm	1 000 000:1		25.2 mm x 35.6 mm

Type	Wavelength Range	Splitting Ratio	Substrate Transmission	Typical Reflectance	Available Sizes (Unmounted)
Wedged Plate Beamsplitter	185 nm - 2.1 µm	-		-	2" x 1" (L x H) 8.0 mm (Middle Thickness) Wedge Angle: 5°
Brewster Windows	185 nm - 2.1 µm	-			6.0 mm, 8.0 mm, 13.0 mm, 16.0 mm, 20.0 mm, and 25.0 mm (Minor Diameters)